The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-01-28
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EDITOR /: 1t is currently talked
ON the street that the recent action of
the Board of Supervisors, in making the
appointment of Treasurer, represented
simply struggle between rival Banks
for the control of the deposits of county
funds. To correct this misapprehension,
and that there may be no occasion for
misconstruction of motives, I have to
state that the First National Bank made
no effort whatever, directly or indirectly,
to in any way influence the action of the
Board in making the appointment. l
have further to state that sent for Capt.
Frantz the Saturday preceding the con-
vening of the Board, and in my Office, in
the presence of E. G. Timme, said to
him, that in the matter of deposits, he
could place them all IN the Banking
House of Dan Head & Co.-that our
Bank would make no claim on him for
them, and advised him to 60 directly
to Mr.. Head, and state to him what I
had said. am informed that he called
on Mr.. Head the same evening, and as
sured him that the deposits should
be made satisfactory to him, and that
Mr.. Head said he was glad he had come
up for the place, and that ne wished him
success. So much for the rival Bank
story.
: I desire, Mr.. Editor, to call the atten-
ton of the people of this county to the
way their business is and has been done
by this and former Boards. In the fall
of 1883, the Sheriff and two Justices
presented bills against this county, ag-
gregating $14,292.80 for that year.
The Sherif's bill was for services (oAi-
ciaD and for boarding tramps. The
justices bills were for fees. | came
before the Board, and contended that
the claims were unjust, and that there
was a conspiracy to swindle the county,
and urged that the Board should defend
the people against their own officers.
| was INST with the plea that it would
involve the county in law suit, and
that there was no certainty that the
county would be successful, then Of
fered, in the event Of the defeat Of the
county. to pay the entire expense of
conducting the defense through the
courts. There was no heed given to
my offer, the Board settling the matter
by paying $11,06429. Our county is
small, the amount of business very linn
tied. A fair and liberal pay for Sheriff,
including rent, fuel and light, would not
exceed $4,000 per annum, at the outside,
yet our Board has paid the late Sheriff
So, 1886. 80 for the year just ended, and
has fixed the pay of the present Sheriff
at Sc, 800 per annum. think the time
cannot be far off when the people of
this county will need to give heed to
these matters.
Now, Mr.. Editor, permit me to place
before your readers the proceedings of
the present Board, in calling the special
meeting of the 18th inst. The law pro-
viding for special meetings is as follows,
Revised Statutes, section 664 "a
special meeting shall be held only when
requested by majority ofthe members
of said Board in writing, addressed and
delivered to the County Clerk, and speci-
flying the time and place of such meeting,
not less than one week therefrom. Upon
the reception of such request, the Clerk
shall Immediately transmit notice of
such meeting to each of the members
of.said Board"
The late Treasurer, III. E. Clark, died
between the hours Of three and four P
NJ, January 9TH, inst. The Clerk files
the request signed by seven members of
the Board, viz, D. Head, Lucas, Engle.
Huetter, Jordan, Lavey ard McKesson,
as of that date January 9TH. So, accord
ing to the records, this request was
written and signed and delivered to the
Clerk before IL P. M. of the day of Mr..
Clark's death. When you consider the
fact that McKesson lives in the town of
Randall-that Lavey lives in Bristol
Lucas in Pleasant Prairie, and Jordan
in Somers. ones faith in the reliability
and faithfulness of the records cannot
stand the strain. The fact is, as I am
credibly informed, Mr.. Editor, that only
the name of the chairman was signed
to the request on the day named, Jaru-
airy 9TH, that two of the members signed
on the 18th, the day the Board met !;
the remainder appended their names
between the 9TH and 18th. I do not
wish to comment on this manner of per-
forming the duties of Supervisors. Twill
simply say if this action ofthe Board is
lawful, then there is no need of any law,
for this Board is above law--an entirely
Independent institution. Iftheir action
is unlawful, then We have no County
Treasurer, and all acts of the so-called
Treasurer are void.
- Very Respectfully,
q. G. SIMMONS.